Catherine McKenney - Councillor - Ward 14 Somerset

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About

Catherine McKenney was elected to Ottawa City Council on October 27th, 2014. She is the first open LGBTQ woman elected to Ottawa Council.

Prior to her election she was the strategic advisor to the Deputy City Manager (Operations) at the City of Ottawa, responsible for services ranging from Fire and Paramedic, Bylaw, Housing, Child Care, and Social Services, to Parks, Recreation, Arts, and Culture, Public Works, Water and Wastewater, Transit and Solid Waste.

Catherine has made her home in Ottawa for the past 30 years and currently lives with her family in the Preston-Somerset area.

The majority of her career has been spent working directly for the residents of Ottawa – as a political assistant to City Councillors Diane Holmes (Somerset) and Alex Munter (Kanata), and as a legislative aide to both Ed Broadbent and Paul Dewar, MPs for Ottawa Centre.

Catherine also has experience in the voluntary sector as manager of public policy for Volunteer Canada and as regional manager for VoicePrint, which delivers print media in audio format to the visually impaired.

Catherine trains regularly for and competes in cross-country and ultra marathon running. She cycles year round, walks to work, supports local independent businesses, and is the proud adoptive parent of 4 humane society animals. She is also an avid volunteer and community leader, giving her time to causes like the Plant Pool Recreation Association and the Cornerstone Shelter for Women.